Lopari Camping Resort

If island hopping appeals – and why wouldn’t it – this is the place to be. On the non-seafaring side, there’s a handy bridge to Cres making it less than five minutes’ drive to the adjoining island, but if more watery escapades beckon then boats from Mali Lošinj (25 minutes away) to Premuda, Susak and Ilovik can be caught. There are boats from Cres to Krk and to the mainland too, so far-ranging Croatian explores are a cinch. Boats off the island certainly aren’t the only reason to travel as far as Mali Lošinj either: the harbour town has a scenic promenade to stroll along, as well as palace museums, a perfumed garden and lots of restaurants. A little outside the town, half an hour from base, there’s the Čikat Aquapark waterpark, so cooling splashes are in easy reach. For days out in nature, make tracks for the far side of Cres, 15 minutes from the site, where the 550-hectare Mali Bok protected area is a mecca for twitchers (and has some pretty sandy beaches for everyone else). More of an urbanite? Head to the town of Cres, half an hour away, for its tower, museum and scenic harbour.